Letter to May Hall James, January 5, 1944
Vera Beggs and Cairine Wilson believed that the practical international cooperation between Canada and the U.S. developed during World War I could not be trusted to extend into the future solely through treaties and joint boards. In 1941, they founded the Canadian-American Women's Committee, an international organization with the aim of developing appreciation and cooperation between the two countries through increased knowledge. The Committee was composed of two sections. The Canadian division had headquarters in Ottawa, while the its American counterpart was based in New York. Each operated separately to suit their activities to the situation of their respective countries, and joint international conferences of Committee leaders were held to determine general policies. In both countries, the Committee worked a great deal with national women's organizations. In addition, it sponsored educational conferences, field study trips for college students and teachers, student exchanges, teacher exchanges, and lecture tours. Though the Canadian Section disbanded in 1966 and the American section disbanded in 1969, the group established permanent student exchanges.
From the guide to the Canadian-American Women's Committee/Association Records MS 355., 1941-1969, (Sophia Smith Collection)
